Phlogacanthus thyrsiformis: A multidimensional review of its ethnomedicinal heritage, phytochemical wealth. pharmacological promise, and future prospect

Introduction

Plant based medicines are a mainstay of traditional healthcare systems-especially in rural and remote areas where modern medicine is hard to come by. That's why research into medicinal plants like Phlogacanthus thyrsiflorus, also known as Titaphul, is so vital [1] . This gregarious shrub, part of the Acanthaceae family, is native to North Eastern India and boasts some amazing flowers-bright orange red tubular spikes and leaves that are ovoid to lanceolate with smooth edges [2] . For generations, local communities have been using both leaves and flowers to treat a wide range of ailments [3] . The resurgence of interest in herbal medicine is largely driven by its natural origin, perceived safety and the fact it's a lot gentler on the system than synthetic drugs [4] . As a result, medicinal plants are a key component of not just traditional but also modern medicine-and form a vital part of the pharmaceutical, nutraceutical and research industries too [5] . Historic texts like the Vedas-which date back over 3500 years-show that humans have been relying on plant based therapeutics for thousands of years [6] . The World Health Organisation has identified over 20, 000 medicinal plant species in use worldwide [7] -and a staggering 80% of the global population relies on traditional herbal remedies to get by [8] . In India, for example, around 80% of the population uses herbal remedies as their primary form of healthcare [9] . That's why ancient systems of medicine like Ayurveda, Unani, Siddha and Homeopathy continue to rely so heavily on plant based formulations. In North Eastern India Phlogacanthus thyrsiflorus Nees is one of the most commonly used medicinal plants around. Local healers use different parts of the plant to treat a range of ailments-from allergies and coughs to malaria and tuberculosis [10] . It tends to bloom between December and April and is found in tropical regions across the North East. In some communities, the plant holds a special significance and is deeply embedded in local culture and traditions [11] . The Phlogacanthus genus comprises approximately 15-17 species, with most of them found across the Himalayas and other tropical regions of Asia, including India [12] . Every part of this plant has its own unique medicinal properties. We use the leaves to treat allergies and digestive complaintswhile the flowers are used as a vegetable and also have therapeutic uses. In some cases, the leaves are even smoked to help alleviate asthma symptoms. And did you know that medicinal salt, which is derived from the plant ash, is used to treat all sorts of ailments-from indigestion to pharyngitis [13] ? We also use it as a paste to treat chronic skin problems and as an antidote to prevent diseases [14] . During the COVID-19 pandemic, Phlogacanthus thyrsiflorus Nees gained new-found importance in Manipur where it was used by local communities as a folk remedy to combat symptoms of the virus [15] . The therapeutic value of medicinal plants is largely because of these compounds that are good for you such as alkaloids, tannins, flavonoids, phenolic compounds and terpenoids. These compounds-they can do all sorts of good stuff like stop free radicals, kill off bad bugs, reduce inflammation and help in the fight against cancer [16] . And it's not just thatwhen they work with the good stuff we get from food, they actually help our bodies fight off disease and stress [17] . Yet despite people using them for ages, a lot of these compounds still haven't been properly looked at. Some recent research has also suggested that the little critters that live inside the cells of medicinal plants can actually produce tiny chemicals that are just as good at killing off bad bugs as anything we can make in a lab [18] . The aims of this study were to take a closer look at medicinal plants for the good stuff they contain, to see if they've got any properties that can fight off bad bugs and how effective they are at doing it, what amount you need to use to get an effect, whether they can help stop free radicals and whether they can cure any bugs-and also to look at the way they react with a special test [19] .

Taxonomy of the Plant

The plant we're looking at falls into this group-Kingdom-Plantae Division-Magnoliophyta Class-Magnolipsida Order-Lamiales Family-Acanthaceae Subfamily-Acanthoideae Genus-Phlogacanthus Species-Phlogacanthus thyrsiflorus

Vernacular Names

In different parts of the world, this plant is known by many names-in Assam for example they call it Banheka, Titabahak or Titaphul. The Garo people know it as Ellot while the Khasi people call it Baskabomphang, Dieng-sohja-buid or Dieng-soh kajut. The Mikir people give it two names-Jaogan and Rambha Arong-while in Nepal it is known as Chua. And the Lepcha people call it Rheeom.

Distribution and Cultivation

Phlogacanthus thyrsiflorus Nees occurs predominantly in the sub-tropical Himalayan region, extending from Ravi to Bhutan, the Upper Gangetic plains, Bihar, North Bengal, Assam, and Bangladesh, up to an altitude of 1200 m [20] . The plant is frequently cultivated as an ornamental species due to its attractive foliage and conspicuous floral spikes. Propagation is generally carried out through stem cuttings during the rainy season [21] . In Manipur, the species is found in both wild and cultivated forms and grows well in moist tropical climates, extending from 650 to 1300 m above sea level and occasionally reaching temperate regions [22] . It thrives in well-drained fertile soils and grows vigorously under partial shade to full sunlight.

Morphology

Phlogacanthus thyrsiformis Nees is a bit of a shrub that can grow up to 2.4m high, its leaves can get 13-35 cm long. The branches of the plant are a bit square-shaped and the leaves are a bit pointed at the ends and have no teeth along the edges. The flowers are at the end of the branches and come in long clusters up to 30 cm long-the flowers themselves are tube-shaped and the bits around them are a lovely orange to red colour. When it gets to spring the plant is really noticeable because of the dense clusters of flowers it grows. The bits of the flower are quite hairy, and the bits around them are about 6.8mm long and covered in bristles. The seeds are flat and round, and the plant flowers between February and April [23] .

Physical Constants and Nutritional Values

Physical parameters of the plant were worked out on a dry matter basis-and it turned out that the moisture content is 79.1% and the ash content is a respectable 10.4%. The nutritional analysis (per 100 grams) showed that the plant contains fair amounts of fat (3.8 mg), protein (7.1 mg) and carbohydrates (78.7 mg). Micronutrient assessment showed sodium (2.9 mg), potassium (722.9 mg) and calcium (105.0 mg)-all of which play a crucial role in cellular metabolism and energy production [32] .

Pharmacological Activties Antibacterial Activity

When we tested ethanolic extracts of P. thyrsiflorus using the disc diffusion method against some nasty bacterial strains, we found that they were pretty effective at killing bacteria like Staphylococcus aureus, Escherichia coli, and Pseudomonas aeruginosa. In fact our extracts were almost as good as Ciprofloxacin at a dose of 5 microgram per ml.

Not bad at all-the extracts worked at concentrations of 1 mg per disc and 0.5 mg per disc [33] .

Antioxident Activity

To get an idea of how good the plant's antioxidant potential is, we ran a reducing power assay on the extracts. We compared it to gallic acid, and the results were pretty clearthe plant extract was a pretty strong antioxidant [34] .

Hypoglycemic Activity

We ran some glucose tolerance tests on mice using extracts from the leaf and stem bark-and the results were pretty impressive. We saw a significant reduction in blood sugar levels at doses of 100 and 200 milligrams per kilogram. The flower extracts were also good at controlling blood sugar levels in mice with diabetes-we think this is because they make the pancreas release more insulin [35,36] .

Antimicrobial Activity

When evaluating antimicrobial activity against E. coli, we used good old-fashioned microbiological techniques, including serial dilution and colony counting [37] .

Anti-Asthmatic Activity

The hydro-alcoholic extracts of Phlogacanthus thyrsiflorus leaves worked pretty well at stopping asthma attacks in a lab setting. They even worked on histamine-induced asthmawhich is some pretty tricky territory [38] .

Economical Aspects

Despite the fact that this plant hasn't been commercialized yet, it's still worth a pretty penny to locals in places like India, who pay up to 30 Rs per bundle of flowers. That's some serious money in a place where people live off the land.

Conclusion and Future Scope

Medicinal plants have been keeping people healthy for thousands of years, and it's because of their rich chemical make-up. This review looks at some of the scientific evidence on Phlogacanthus thyrsiflorus-and it's pretty clear that this plant is a bit of a superstar when it comes to treating various ailments. With further research, we might be able to develop really effective treatments with minimal side effects [39,40] .

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